“This fruit vendor should not be permitted to operate until the ugly and dangerous structure is removed and the area improved with an appropriate structure and trash disposal,” Judith Berdy said in a spontaneous protest to RIOC. “There is no reason to permit this vendor to make our plaza an eyesore.”
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Not Just the Fruit Vendor
Berdy had a point but there’s more to it. RIOC Chief Financial Officer Dhru Amin reacted quickly with enlightening insight.
The area in question, one of the first things visitors see on Roosevelt Island when exiting the subway – and no real treat for residents either – is an open area strangely taken over by trash, storage along with the fruit vendor’s cart.
About five years back, mountains of corrugated burst into flames that scorched 425 Main Street, melting window frames up to the fourth floor. The fire was intentionally set, but negligence set the stage. Now, it isn’t just the aesthetics; it’s the danger too.
A fruit stand in the area makes sense, but who thought it was a good idea to turn this highly visible plaza into a trash dump? If nothing else, Berdy’s complaint brought this issue to the forefront.
This is not the first thing any visitor should see nor the last thing Roosevelt Islanders encounter on their way to work.
Dhru Amin Steps In
In less than a year at RIOC, Amin has made her mark in a leadership role, joining Deputy Chief Counsel Gerrald Ellis, heading up the agency after CEO Shelton J. Haynes and Chief Counsel Gretchen Robinson were suspended.
In this instance, she promised prompt action.
“PSD is reaching out to set up a meeting with the fruit vendor to discuss any issues and concerns,” she said.
By Monday morning, she painted a clearer picture:
“This is the follow-up I received from PSD,” she wrote. “The fruit vendor was present for a meeting regarding cleanliness at the area where the vendor sells his fruits.”
- The boxes circled are the property of Duane Reade. Checking back regarding the fire in that area again was the property of Duane Reade.
- The crates circled are also property of Duane Reade
- The last circle was described as an “ugly tarp.” The fruit vendor mutually agreed he will not return to Roosevelt Island until he has replaced the tarp on his fruit.
- Additionally, the fruit vendor asked if RIOC on a daily basis could inspect his area for cleanliness that is satisfactory for the community.
- The fruit vendor expressed that this is his livelihood and he will comply with any and all directives instituted by RIOC.
“RIOC will also follow up with Duane Reade regarding the boxes and crates as they are a safety hazard.”
Finally…
This needs to go a little further. Why should this space be surrendered to Duane Reade for free storage and trash? Containers overflowing with bags and bound stacks of corrugated are just not appropriate here.
Riverwalk Commons belongs to RIOC. It invests each year in sprucing it up and maintaining the grounds. Why let those efforts be undermined? Why can’t Duane Reade carry its trash across the street as all the other Commons vendors do?
With the fruit vendor eager to get his piece right, why not encourage Duane Reade to respect the public space too? It’s been allowed to be ugly for too long, and now that the issue’s been raised, we should finish off the improvements.
You Can FOIL* It
On April 15, at the Steam Plant Demolition Town Hall, a simple exchange revealed something far more consequential than anything formally presented that evening.
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